Clinical Study of Geriatric Dermatoses

INTRODUCTION: The elderly population of India aged 60 years and above is increasing in leaps and bounds due to the increased longevity brought by improved living conditions and medical care. Ageing of skin is a gradual process occurring because of both intrinsic as well as extrinsic ageing. But only a limited number of studies have been done in this relatively uncharted territory of dermatology. AIM OF THE STUDY: To understand the spectrum of physiological and pathological geriatric dermatoses and to analyse their correlation with coexisting systemic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a hospital based prospective cross-sectional study done over a period of one year. 200 patients aged 60 years and above attending the outpatient clinics of Dermatology and Geriatric departments in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai were included in the study. A detailed history followed by a scrupulous clinical examination was done and the cutaneous lesions were documented. Requisite investigations pertaining to the dermatoses involved was taken and the results were tabulated. RESULTS: Out of the 200 study population, 129 (64.5%) were male and 71 (34.5%) were females. The male:female ratio was 1.8 : 1. 166 people (83%) were within the 60 to 69 age group, 31 (15.5%) between 70 to 79 and 3 (1.5%) were more than 80 years old. The mean presenting age was 66.8 years. Crinkles were the commonest physiological geriatric dermatoses seen in our study (73%) followed by glyphic wrinkles (19.5%). Among the pathological dermatoses, benign tumours were the commonest (48%) followed by infections and infestations (27.5%). No cuatneous malignant tumours were reported. Grade III graying of hair was the commonest and was seen in 48.5% of the study subjects followed by grade IV (21.5%). Loss of lustre was the commonest nail change and was observed in 20% of the patients followed by subungual hyperkeratosis (6%). CONCLUSION: Geriatric dermatology is a rapidly emerging field in dermatology. The elderly need early identification and treatment of various cutaneous ailments to let them lead a productive and healthy life